Six convicted criminals are now behind bars for the roles they played in the shipping of high purity cocaine and amphetamine into the region – with a further two due to be sentenced at a later date. During the 22-week trial, drugs linchpin John Allcock and his cronies repeatedly denied their roles in the conspiracy, which saw detectives monitor and close in on their operation between January 10, 2017 and May 31, 2018. As part of their activity, officers seized more than £120,000 cash, 65 kilos of cannabis and mixing agents, as well as Class A drugs. During the complex investigation which was launched by officers from the North East Regional Special Operations Unit (NERSOU), Allcock and his trusted lieutenant Carl McAlindon were monitored as they ran their illicit business, buying and sourcing drugs from members of a North West organised criminal group. Allcock would regularly travel to Liverpool and Manchester to meet with associates and was observed visiting an industrial unit which the group had access to and suspected to have been used to store large quantities of Amphetamine – which he later bought and employed couriers to distribute across the region. During their trial, Newcastle Crown Court heard how the men attempted to evade detection by conducting shady face-to-face business meetings, as well as via encrypted devices and also used a number of tactics to try and avoid police detection. After a lengthy period of surveillance on the group, officers made their first move and arrested Liverpool-based courier Paul Marrow on September 15, 2017 on the A1 in Durham. With the assistance of a drugs dog, a hidden electronically operated compartment complete with a trap door was found inside his white van and contained a block of high purity cocaine worth around £180,000. Then in November, further enquiries saw the recovery of almost £50,000 in cash after a targeted vehicle stop in Lincolnshire. A search of the van revealed the cash secreted beneath a fixed heavy-duty boot-liner under a pile of tools. The takedown of the group continued into 2018 when officers arrested two more couriers, Baber Azim and Glen Stoddart. Azim was intercepted as he travelled through the Cleveland Police area in possession of cash and a kilo of cocaine, and Stoddart caught in Swansea having travelled there with £250,000 worth of Cannabis, and later collecting £21,250 in cash. Allcock, who was residing in Spain, was later arrested with the help of the National Crime Agency in a final swoop by officers determined to bring the conspiracy to an end. The group of eight were subsequently charged with a string of drugs and money laundering offences and all stood trial at Newcastle Crown Court. Two pleaded guilty and the remaining six were subsequently convicted in February this year following a four-month trial. On Friday, six of the men again appeared at Newcastle Crown Court and have been handed down their sentences as follows: – John Allcock, 52, of Durham was found guilty of Conspiracy to Supply Class A and B drugs and money laundering and was sentenced to 21 years behind bars. – Carl McAlindon, 36, of Jarrow was found guilty of Conspiracy to Supply Class A and B Drugs and money laundering and was sentenced to 13 years behind bars. – Bernard Sewell, 41, of Hebburn was found guilty of Conspiracy to Supply Class B drugs but found not guilty of Conspiracy to supply Class A Drugs and was sentenced to four and a half years behind bars. – Mark Hiscock, 46, of South Shields was found guilty of money laundering but found not guilty of Conspiracy to supply Class B drugs and was sentenced to one year behind bars. – David McFarlane, 53 of Jarrow was found guilty of money laundering but found not guilty of Conspiracy to Supply Class B drugs and was sentenced to one year behind bars. – Glen Stoddart, 53, of Hartlepool was found guilty of conspiracy to supply Class B drugs, money laundering and participating in activities of an Organised Crime Group and was sentenced to five and a half years behind bars. – Paul Marrow, 62, of Liverpool admitted Conspiracy to Supply Class A drugs and is due to be sentenced at a later date. – Baber Azim, 43, of Slough admitted Conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and money laundering and is due to be sentenced at a later date.
